Senior Camden Meadows paced the Hurricanes with a 2-under-par 70 Thursday at Fields Ferry Golf Club in Calhoun as the Cartersville boys golf team won the Area Golf Championship for a third consecutive year. Meadows was the tournament’s individual low medalist and Cartersville won the team title over runner-up Midtown by 10 shots. Anderson McCary shot 73 while Andrew Lutjens and Jake Lawson followed with 75s for the Canes’ 293 team total. Jake Wehunt and Brody Tidwell fired rounds of 79 and 80, respectively, to round out the Cartersville scoring. The Area win by Cartersville secures a berth in the Class AAAAA State Championship Tournament May 16-17 at Okefenokee Country Club in Waycross and allows the Canes to skip the State Sectional Tournament hosted at Cartersville Country Club May 2.

Georgia Highlands College softball lost a pair of games Wednesday in a non-conference doubleheader at Walters State in Morristown, Tennessee. The Chargers lost the first game 10-0 with the Senators taking Game 2, 13-5. Madison Dennis and Allison Deweese had the only Georgia Highlands hits in the first game. Haley Robinson (3.1 IP, 5ER, 9H, 2BB, 1K) suffered the pitching loss splitting the circle duties with Katie Traynor (2 IP, 5ER, 3H, 2BB, 1K). In the second game, Dennis and Deweese both homered but the Chargers fell behind early and could not catch up. The Senators led 7-0 after just two innings and out hit GHC thirteen to eight. Dennis finished with two hits and two RBIs. Haley Overton also had a two-hit game including a double. Annsley Todd (RBI), Taylor Justice (double), and Bradey Tharp added hits for the Chargers. Emma Veitch (0.2 IP, 6R, 4ER, 6H, 1BB) was saddled with the pitching loss. Gracee Ellis (1.2 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1K), Maggie Schandera (0.0 IP, 1ER, 3BB), and Katie Traynor (2.1 IP, 3ER, 3H, 1BB) also pitched in the loss. Georgia Highlands (10-30, 3-9 GCAA) plays a conference doubleheader Friday at Andrew College and will host conference foe ABAC Sunday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

The four local teams in the GHSA state tennis tournament Tuesday all lost their opening round matches and only one of the four teams winning any line decisions. The Cartersville girls pushed Chamblee to the very end falling 3-2, while the Cartersville boys, Adairsville girls, and Cass girls all fell 3-0. The Hurricanes fell to St. Pius X with the Lady Tigers dropping a decision to Oconee County and Northview defeated the Lady Colonels. The Lady Canes’ Emily Bush won her Line 1 singles match 6-2, 6-2 and the Cartersville Line 2 doubles team of Anna Ramey and Sofia Motuba won a three-set match 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 for the other team point for the Cartersville girls.

The two teams combined for 30 hits including 10 for extra base hits Tuesday, but it was Georgia Highlands who outscored Gordon State 16-9 in a GCAA battle at LakePoint in Emerson. The host Chargers finished with 17 hits led by Parker Poteet (three doubles, 4 RBIs) and Zayd Brannigan (two doubles, 3 RBIs) with four hits each. Conner Todaro followed with three hits including a double and two RBIs for GHC. Austin Tienda (double) and David Smith both contributed two hits each. Zack Valentine (4.1 IP, 4ER, 7H, 2BB, 5K) picked up the pitching win in relief of starter Baylor Akin (1.2 IP, 5ER, 5H, 4BB, 3K). Caleb Garner (1 IP, 0R, 2H) and Hunter Goodwin (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 4K) also pitched for the Chargers. Georgia Highlands (37-6, 13-4) snapped a three game skid with the victory. The loss dropped Gordon College to 17-20 on the season and 7-10 in GCAA action. The two teams will continue their four-game conference series in Barnesville with a single game Thursday and a doubleheader Saturday.

Woodland’s Rowan Billings and Conner Stermer combined on the mound Tuesday night to limit Cass to just one hit in a 3-0 shutout of the Colonels at the Colonels’ Athletic Complex. Meanwhile, the Wildcats finished with nine hits and scored single runs in the second, fifth, and seventh innings. Stermer, who finished with two hits, singled home a run in the second inning. Jakiyon Porter drove in a run with a groundout in the fifth and hit a solo home run in the seventh inning. Porter also doubled in the third inning. Chase Carson, Ayden Ray, Jackson Rutledge, Austin Sanders (double), and Billings contributed one hit each for the Wildcats. Billings started on the mound for Woodland and struck out seven in the first six innings. He walked one and allowed just one base hit to the Colonels’ Bentley Markley in the fourth inning. Stermer needed just 11 pitches to work through a scoreless and hitless seventh inning to earn a save for the Wildcats. Carson Hill (6 IP, 2R, 1ER, 8H, 1BB, 5K) was tagged with the pitching loss for Cass. Devan Hutchinson (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1K) pitched in the seventh inning for the Colonels. The three game region series now moves to Woodland for a doubleheader Thursday at 5 p.m. Woodland (12-16, 5-8) needs one win Thursday to secure the final state playoff berth from Region 7-5A. Cass (5-23, 4-9) could snatch the final state playoff berth with a doubleheader sweep Thursday evening.

The Purple Hurricanes pounded out a dozen hits and scored 15 runs in just four innings Tuesday night in a 15-0 home win over Hiram. The Canes — celebrating their seniors in their final regular season home contest — got all 12 seniors in the game. Cartersville pitchers Ryan Johnson (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 5K) and Collin Eaton (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 3K) combined to shut out the Hornets and struck out half of the sixteen batters faced. Hank Smith finished with three hits including a pair of doubles and six RBIs to pace the Canes’ offense. Curt Bonner also had three hits including one double and three RBIs. Blake Sutton contributed two hits including a double and one RBI. Drew Rothschild (2 RBIs, sac fly), Elliott Eastin (RBI), Jimbo Gaines (RBI), and Jacob Ray (RBI) tossed in one hit apiece. Harrison Childers drove in one run. Cartersville (21-5, 12-1 Region 7-5A) remains ranked No. 1 in Class 5A and will have a chance to clinch the 2022 region title in their doubleheader at Hiram (2-24, 0-13) Thursday at 5 p.m.

Tigers’ pitcher Jack Whitley tossed a gem Tuesday night to help lead Adairsville to a 2-1 Region 6AAA win at LaFayette. Whitley needed only 79 pitches to finish off the Ramblers. He surrendered just one earned run on six hits and two walks while striking out six. LaFayette took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Adairsville’s two runs crossed in the top of the fourth. Tyler Driggers had two hits including a double in the win. Evan Sanders and P.J. Weeks also had one double for the Tigers. Hayden Blalock and Whitley had the other Adairsville base hits. Braden Powell and Dawson Craig were credited with one RBI each after coaxing bases loaded walks. The win by Adairsville completed a two game series sweep of LaFayette (7-19, 2-12). The Tigers (11-12, 6-8) will wrap up the regular season with home-and-home games Thursday and Friday with Rockmart. Adairsville hosts on Thursday at 5:55 p.m. Friday’s game at Rockmart is also a 5:55 p.m. start.

ATHLETES BEYOND BARTOW For baseball and softball updates, please see -- https://www.bartowsportszone.com/single-post/athletes-beyond-bartow-college-and-pro-baseball-softball-updates TENNIS HOUSTON MEDLOCK -- Piedmont College (Sr., Adairsville HS) ... On senior night, Medlock landed a 6-2, 6-1 victory on Line 3 singles and teamed with Alebrto Nunez in an 8-3 triumph on Line 1 doubles, as Piedmont picked up an 8-1 win against LaGrange April 13 at home. EMILY SURCEY -- Arkansas State University (Fr., Cass HS) ... In the Red Wolves' season finale, Surcey and Hunter Roper's 6-0 win on Line 3 doubles helped Arkansas State capture the doubles point in a 4-1 loss to Texas-Arlington April 15 at home. Surcey dropped a 6-0, 6-3 decision on Line 2 singles. Arkansas State will face Troy in the Sun Belt Conference tournament April 21 at Peachtree City Tennis Center. BRYCE VAN ORDER -- Piedmont College (So., Woodland HS) ... VanOrder produced a 6-0, 6-1 victory on Line 2 singles during the season-ending win. Piedmont, a No. 2 seed in the USA South tournament, will compete in the conference tourney April 28-30 at the Rome Tennis Center. TRACK AND FIELD TERRY BERDIN -- Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) ... Berdin and his 4x100-meter relay teammates placed fifth in the Kennesaw State Invitational. During the April 15-16 meet, Berdin finished 17th in the 200-meter dash and 24th in the 400. TREVOR KNOWLES -- Albion College (Sr., Woodland HS) ... Knowles finished sixth in the triple jump, 13th in the long jump and 59th in the 100-meter dash April 14-16 at the Tiffin (Ohio) Track Carnival. STEPHEN SMITH -- Kennesaw State University (So., Cass HS) ... In the Owls' recent home meet, Smith came in runner-up during the pole vault. ~~ contributed by Nicholas Sullivan, The Daily Tribune News

Cartersville High School product Connor Justus has inked a minor league contract with the Charleston, West Virginia Dirty Birds to begin his seventh professional season. The former Canes' and Georgia Tech infielder made a big splash in a recent exhibition game with his new team smacking a pair of home runs. During his professional career, Justus has made stops at Orem, Burlington, Inland Empire, Mobile, Pensacola, and Jacksonville prior to joining the Dirty Birds. Also this past week, Sam Howard made his initial start in a rehab assignment for the Pirates' Bradenton Marauders in a 3-1 win over Lakeland. Howard only worked one inning with a pair of strikeouts, so it appears the southpaw is moving in the right direction in his efforts to return to the Major League club. Editors note: A separate 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' report will be published later in the week with reports on other sports. PRO BASEBALL SAM HOWARD — Pittsburgh Pirates (9th year pro; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS) … made a one inning start Friday in a rehab assignment for the Bradenton Marauders as they beat Lakeland, 3-1. Howard faced just five batters and threw 16 pitches. He walked one and struck out two. The 29-year-old was shut down late in spring training due to back spasms but has now been cleared for this rehabilitation assignment. It is not clear when the southpaw will be able to make his season debut with the Pirates. CONNOR JUSTUS — Charleston Dirty Birds (7th year pro; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS) … has signed a minor league contract with the High Class A Charleston West Virginia Dirty Birds of the South Atlantic League. In an exhibition game Saturday against the Road Warrior Black Sox of Pennsylvania, the infielder hit a pair of home runs. The Dirty Birds open the regular season Thursday night against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Tampa Tarpons (5th year pro; Cartersville HS) … after going 3-for-6 with a double and a home run in his first two starts, the switch hitting catcher was a combined 0-for-8 in a 7-3 loss last Thursday and a 6-3 loss Sunday to the Dunedin Blue Jays. SOFTBALL PRESLY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … saw action in five of the Wolves’ six games this past week as the team went 5-1 against Agnes Scott, Huntingdon, and LaGrange. The catcher was 5-for-14 at the plate with a walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Wesleyan (17-12, 8-6 USA South Athletic Conference) has a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at home against Fort Valley State before closing out the regular season with a conference doubleheader at Brevard College. ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (Fr., Woodland HS) … in a pair of home doubleheaders last week against Point and Brenau, the Eagles’ third baseman went 1-for-11 at the plate with a walk, a run scored, and two RBIs. Reinhardt (26-13, 16-6) split with Point and swept Brenau. The Eagles host Columbia University Tuesday and play at Columbia International University Thursday. BRIANNA HILL — Covenant College (So., Woodland HS) …. pinch hit in both games and saw some action at third base in a doubleheader sweep last Tuesday at Berea College (Kentucky). She was 0-for-1 with a walk. The Scots went 3-3 in doubleheaders with Berea, Maryville (Tennessee), and Piedmont. Covenant (19-14, 9-5 USA South Athletic Conference) wraps up regular season play Wednesday at home with a doubleheader against Agnes Scott. SADYE JOHNSON —University of North Georgia (Fr., Adairsville HS) … made a defensive appearance at catcher Friday as the 12th-ranked Nighthawks won at USC-Aiken. UNG then lost the next two games of the weekend conference series to the Pacers. North Georgia (35-13, 17-4 Peach Belt Conference) has a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday at Emmanuel College. LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … went 3-for-10 with a pair of sacrifice hits in five games last week — two at Georgia Southwestern and three at Alabama-Huntsville — as the Wolves suffered a winless week. UWG (11-29, 4-19 Gulf South Conference) hosts a non-conference doubleheader with Columbus State Wednesday afternoon before welcoming Mississippi College for a three game conference series Saturday and Sunday. HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (So., Cartersville HS) … went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two walks, and three RBIs as the Hawks split a home non-conference doubleheader last Wednesday with Columbus State. Shorter (6-36, 2-21 Gulf South Conference) plays Mississippi College Wednesday in a doubleheader in Irondale, Alabama before hosting a three game conference series with Alabama-Huntsville Saturday and Sunday in Rome. HANNAH TODD — University of Houston (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … tossed all seven innings of a 7-3 home loss Friday to Wichita State when the Shockers scored four times in the top of the seventh. Todd allowed seven earned runs on 14 hits, four walks, and a hit batter while fanning six. The right hander also worked three innings of scoreless relief Saturday in a 7-6 loss. Todd surrendered a pair of hits and struck out one. The Cougars (23-19-1, 7-4-1 American Athletic Conference) play at Texas Wednesday night and will host a three game conference series with UCF Friday through Sunday. ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (So., Adairsville HS) … made a start at shortstop last Wednesday in the Hawks’ 7-6 home win over Columbus State. Varner was 1-for-3 at the plate and scored one run. Shorter (6-36, 2-21 Gulf South Conference) plays Mississippi College in Irondale, Alabama Wednesday before hosting Alabama-Huntsville Saturday and Sunday in a three game GSC series. BASEBALL MASON BARNETT — Auburn University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … picked up his second win of the 2022 season last Wednesday with a five inning home start to beat Samford, 4-1. The right hander scattered three hits and three walks with six strikeouts while allowing just one earned run. The Tigers (24-12, 8-7 SEC) host Alabama State Tuesday night, Kennesaw State Wednesday, and a three game SEC series with South Carolina Friday through Sunday. MICAH EARWOOD — Georgia State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … allowed a pair of hits but worked a scoreless eighth inning Friday at Georgia Southern in an 11-1 Sun Belt Conference loss. Georgia State (23-13, 10-5) hosts Kennesaw State Tuesday afternoon and has a three game conference series with Louisiana-Lafayette Friday through Sunday. JAKE GOOCH — Central Alabama CC (So., Cartersville HS) … finished 2-for-6 in last Friday’s home doubleheader split with Marion Military. His two hits in the first game drove in three runs in a 12-2 victory. The Trojans (17-22, 6-12) had games Monday with Marion Military (results not available at publishing time). CACC has a home doubleheader Thursday with Southern Union CC. BRYCEN JONES — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … allowed one earned run on two hits and registered one strike out working the fifth inning of last Tuesday’s 11-6 home win over Emmanuel College. He then retired the final two outs and walked a batter in the eighth inning Saturday during a 4-3 conference loss at Alabama-Huntsville. West Georgia (19-18, 9-14 Gulf South Conference) plays at Georgia College Tuesday and then hosts conference foe Mississippi College Friday and Saturday in a three game series. LOGAN MARTIN — Sewanee - Univ. of the South (Jr., Cartersville HS) … entered in the third inning and worked six innings on the mound in a 10-5 home loss Friday to Centre College. The right hander yielded three earned runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out ten. Sewanee (3-30, 0-18 Southern Athletic Association) has a home doubleheader with Brescia University Tuesday and wraps us the regular season Friday and Saturday with a three game series at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. MASON McBEE — Coastal Alabama South CC (Fr., Cartersville HS) … retired the final five outs and allowed no runs in the Sun Chiefs’ 10-5 home loss to Chattahoochee Valley CC Saturday. He surrendered a pair of hits and struck out one in the sixth and seventh innings. Coastal Alabama South (20-20-1, 10-10 Alabama Community College Conference) has a four game home-and-home conference series with Coastal Alabama North Thursday and Saturday. GARRETT MISHOE — University of West Georgia (So., Adairsville HS) … faced four batters in the seventh inning last Tuesday during a Wolves’ 11-6 home win over Emmanuel College. Mishoe, who entered with his team up 10-4, gave up a pair of earned runs on a walk, hit batsman, and one infield single. West Georgia (19-18, 9-14 Gulf South Conference) plays at Georgia College and hosts Mississippi College in a three game GSC series Friday and Saturday. SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (Fr., Woodland HS) … worked parts of the fifth and sixth innings last Tuesday and was tagged with the pitching loss in a 6-4 home loss to Berry College. Smith retired three of eight batters faced but allowed three earned runs on five hits. The Scots (15-17, 7-8 USA South Athletic Conference) host a three game non-conference series with Bob Jones University Friday and Saturday. STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Jr., Cass HS) … in a single game last Tuesday at Carson-Newman and a three game home series with USC-Aiken, the Mountain Lions’ third baseman went 8-for-14 at the plate driving in seven runs with three walks, a double, and a home run in four wins and one loss Saturday to the Pacers. Spell lifted his season average to .328 in 34 games and 116 at bats with the hot week at the plate. He has three homers and 26 RBIs. YHC (28-13, 13-8 Peach Belt Conference) sits tied for second with Georgia College in the PBC behind Columbus State with two more conference weekends remaining. The Mountain Lions play non-conference games at Alabama-Huntsville Tuesday and at home against Carson-Newman Wednesday. They then host Lander University in a three game conference series Friday through Sunday. PRESTON WELCHEL — Coastal Alabama South CC (So., Cartersville HS) … hit safely in all four games of a home-and-home conference series last week against Chattahoochee Valley CC. The Sun Chiefs’ outfielder went 7-for-12 with two walks, two doubles, and three RBIs. Coastal Alabama South (20-20-1, 10-10 ACCC) play a four game, home-and-home series Thursday and Saturday with Coastal Alabama-North. COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (So., Cartersville HS) … in games played at Big League Camp in Marion, North Carolina, Wilbanks started three times as the Grizzlies designated hitter and went 4-for-8 with a pair of walks, two runs scored, and two RBIs in a loss to Montreat College and a pair of wins over Fisher College (Massachusetts). GGC (31-11) plays at 21st-ranked Middle Georgia State Tuesday and will host a three game series with Columbia International Friday and Saturday. DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham Southern College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … earned his fifth save of the season Saturday with a two inning effort at Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven. Williams, who entered with his team up 9-6, allowed one earned run on two hits facing eight batters. The Panthers play at Emory Tuesday afternoon before hosting Berry College Friday and Saturday in their final conference series of the regular season. JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … started all five games for the Jaguars last week as they won at Erskine College, lost at home to Anderson University, and won two of three games at home against North Georgia. Wilkie hit safely in all five games going 8-for-19 with a walk, a double, one RBI, a sacrifice bunt, and two runs scored. The Jags’ second baseman raised his batting average to .344 for the season in 128 at bats with 22 RBIs. Augusta (14-25, 6-15 Peach Belt Conference) hosts Francis Marion University Wednesday afternoon before heading to Americus for a three game series at Georgia Southwestern Friday and Saturday. ZACH WILSON — Penn State Greater Allegheny (So., Woodland HS) … made a pitching start in the first game and started at first base in the second game of a Friday doubleheader loss at Penn State DuBois. On the mound, he went five innings allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 13 hits and two walks while fanning three. At the plate in Game 2, he was 1-for-3. Penn State Greater Allegheny (9-15, 5-5 PSUAC) hosts Clarion University Wednesday and plays a three game series with Penn State Mont Alto Friday and Saturday.

The Cartersville High School gymnastics team placed third out of four competing schools in the Class 5A and under division in a season-ending meet April 12 at The Lovett School. All three of the Canes competitors placed inside the top 10 in the all-around event. Karley Garrison led the Canes with a third-place finish. Her All Around score was 34.35. Garrison was runner-up on the floor (9.05) and finished fourth on the bars (8.5). Jayla Byrd's 30.65 score was good for a seventh place standing in the all-around competition. She earned a fifth place finish in floor exercise with a score of 8.7. Annaston Wilson finished 10th with 28.5 points. Wilson's high score came in the floor exercise with an 8.3.

Cartersville and Woodland competed Saturday at the nine-team River Ridge Invitational in Woodstock. Pope won the girls meet with Cartersville finishing fourth and the Woodland girls sixth. East Paulding won the boys meet. Woodland was fourth and Cartersville placed fifth. Below are top local performances: 1st - Eric Toviave, Cartersville, 110M Hurdles, 15.05 1st - Eric Toviave, Cartersville, 300M Hurdles, 40.65 1st - Tyler Jones, Woodland, 3200M Run, 9:47.68 1st - Anna Grace Boone, Cartersville, High Jump, 4-10 1st - Noah Baer, Woodland, Pole Vault, 12-6 1st - Woodland boys 4x800M Relay, 8:31.48 2nd - Rylee Evans, Woodland, 1600M Run, 5:27.72 2nd - Drew Thayer, Woodland, 1600M Run, 4:40.57 2nd - Kiconco Bassler, Woodland, 100M Hurdles, 17.49 2nd - Mason Cline, Cartersville, High Jump, 4-10, j 2nd - London Moultrie, Cartersville, Long Jump, 16-5.5 2nd - Cartersville girls 4x800M Relay, 10:41.53 2nd - Cartersville girls 4x400M Relay, 4:20.31 3rd - Sam Peters, Cartersville, 1600M Run, 4:42.98 3rd - Olamide Sadiku, Cartersville, 400M Dash, 1:03.90 3rd - Cartersville boys 4x100M Relay, 43.91 3rd - Cartersville girls 4x100M Relay, 51.48

Georgia Highlands won the first game of a four game series this week with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College at LakePoint Tuesday, but the Stallions took the final three games in Tifton following Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of the Chargers. ABAC won the first game Saturday 6-2 and earned the series win in the second game with an 11-9 win. ABAC also won Friday night, 6-5. In the opening game Saturday, a Stallions’ starting pitcher tossed a complete-game and struck out nine to limit the Chargers to just two runs. David Rose homered and drove in three runs for ABAC. In the second game Saturday, Georgia Highlands scored eight times in the top of the third inning to take an 8-3 lead, but the Stallions bullpen pretty much shut the door from there and enabled an ABAC come-from-behind win. Three ABAC pitchers combined to limit GHC to just one run on three hits over the final five frames. Ethan Anderson led the Chargers offense in the doubleheader with five hits including a home run and three RBIs. David Smith had four hits and two RBIs. Zayd Brannigan contributed three hits on the day with two RBIs. Zachary Murray (5.2 IP, 6R, 5ER, 6H, 7BB, 5K) suffered the opening game loss on the mound. Caleb Garner (0.1 IP) retired the final out in the sixth inning. Chandler Wood (1.1 IP, 3R, 2ER, 2H, 1BB) was saddled with the second game loss for the Chargers. Eric Moore (5.2 IP, 8R, 5ER, 12H, 0BB, 4K), Keegan Pulford-Thorpe (0.0 IP, 1BB), and Zack Valentine (0.1 IP) also pitched for GHC. ABAC improved to 25-18 overall and 10-6 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings. Georgia Highlands (36-6, 12-4) will host Gordon College Tuesday. The Chargers then have a non-conference doubleheader at USC Salkehatchee Wednesday before finishing the Gordon College series with three games in Barnesville Thursday (single game) and Saturday (doubleheader).